Aid Appeals

Students and families who find themselves in unique financial circumstances may consider a Special Circumstance Appeal with the Office of Financial Aid. Click here to see applicable appeal deadlines for the current semester.

Special Circumstance Appeal

The Office of Financial Aid realizes a student and their families may be facing circumstances that cause their financial situation to change. Illinois Tech can exercise professional judgment to re-evaluate a student's financial aid package provided that appropriate documentation is on file. Students should submit a Special Circumstance Appeal Form, a brief letter explaining their situation, and supporting documentation to the Office of Financial Aid. Special Circumstance Appeals are year specific, please select the appropriate appeal based on current enrollment.

A financial aid staff member will be in contact with the student when an appeal is submitted to confirm receipt and additional communication will occur in the event additional clarification or documentation is needed and when a decision is reached. While the Office of Financial Aid will always try to accommodate families during times of need, please be aware that funding is limited. Once all information is submitted, the review process can normally take up to two weeks.

Undocumented students

Domestic undergraduate students without a J-1, F-1, or H-4 visa status and who are ineligible to submit a FAFSA who are facing a hardship and need to apply for additional financial aid can complete the Continuing Student Application for Additional Financial Aid. Additionally, students can visit the Undocumented Students page on the One Stop website for information on resources, financial aid opportunities, news and more. Continuing Student Application for Additional Financial Aid are year specific, please select the appropriate appeal based on current enrollment.

Institutional Scholarship Proration

Illinois Tech expects all students to remain at full-time status (12 credits or more) throughout their undergraduate studies in order to participate fully in the intellectual and professional life of their academic environment. Students who are awarded institutional funds are expected to enroll full-time regardless of the time remaining in the program of study.

However, there may be a period when full-time enrollment does not match a student’s situation. In these cases, a student may request that their institutional scholarships be prorated by submitting a Scholarship Proration Request. Consideration for scholarship proration is only available for undergraduate scholarships. If you have any questions, please contact:

Leticia Moreno

Institutional Scholarship Extension

If you entered as a first-year student, your eligibility for assistance from the university is normally limited to your first eight academic semesters (four years) at Illinois Tech, or 10 academic semesters (five years) for students in the College of Architecture.

Exceptions to this policy must be approved and appeals for a one semester extension should be submitted to the Office of Financial Aid. Students who may require a year-long course of study to meet degree requirements should make their educational plans explicit in their appeal. Additional information from the student and/or the student's advisor, Undergraduate Academic Affairs, or related offices may be required before a decision is made.

NOTE: This does not include coursework taken while studying abroad through enrollment in a program that is not sponsored by Illinois Tech.